Page "Wandering Jew" Paragraph 18

The figure of the doomed sinner, forced to wander without the hope of rest in death till the second coming of Christ, impressed itself upon the popular medieval imagination, mainly with reference to the seeming immortality of the wandering Jewish people.

These two aspects of the legend are represented in the different names given to the central figure.

In German-speaking countries he is referred to as " Der Ewige Jude " ( the immortal, or eternal, Jew ), while in Romance-speaking countries he is known as " Le Juif Errant " ( the Wandering Jew ) and " L ' Ebreo Errante "; the English form, probably because it is derived from the French, has followed the Romance.

As well as " El Judío Errante " ( The Wandering Jew ), he is known in Spanish as " Juan que Espera a Dios ", ( John waits for God ,).